In its 10th year of operation, Ellenvale has increased its licence to 10 vehicles. We find out the reasons behind the expansion
For most people, a health scare would result in thoughts of slowing down, especially when it comes to work. But not for Steve Berwick of Ellenvale Coaches based in Aspatria, Cumbria.
After open heart surgery in 2005 and defying doctors’ prognosis that he only had a 20% chance of surviving, he has now been operating the firm for 10 years.
Now with the business expanding, and his two children and a new Compliance Manager onboard, Ellenvale is going from strength the strength.
Defying the odds
Director Steve has held his PSV licence for 34 years, after passing his test with a local operator and covering a wide range of duties there, including driving.
Says Steve: “After that I worked in various other driving jobs, including HGV driving.
“But in 2005 I collapsed and I needed open heart surgery, so it was a question of what I did once I’d recovered.”
Deciding a life on the road coach and wagon driving was no longer good for his health, Steve set up Ellenvale Coaches on his own two years later.
“I decided I needed an easier life so I started up Ellenvale in 2007. The company is named after the Ellen Valley because the River Ellen runs all the way through Aspatria to Maryport. It was an alternative to having my name on the business – I never wanted my name on it.
“I started with a one-vehicle O-Licence, gaining a school contract. I have just built it up from there really.
“When I had my operation, doctors told me I had 12 weeks to live, so I think I’ve done pretty well.”
Branching out
Celebrating its 10th anniversary in September this year, the decision was made to increase the licence to operate 10 vehicles.
“It’s taken us 10 years to go from a one-vehicle licence to 10. The reason we expanded was to service the workload and to introduce extra bus services, as we found ourselves a little bit short,” says Steve.
Ellenvale operates a mixture of five-seaters to 70-seaters, and work consists of private hires, such as airport transfers and day trips. There is also Ellenvale’s sister company – North Lakes Taxi Hire – which operates the taxi side of the business separately, but is ran from the same office.
The company now also operates three local bus services and two school services.
Says Compliance Manager Steve Newton: “The three local bus services were brought about to replace council services, and we run them off our own back now. They were subsidised and we’ve turned a profit out of them so it’s worked in our favour.
Adds Steve Berwick: “We pride ourselves on being fully committed to Cumbria County Council. We’re committed to them and because of that we’ve got a good relationship with them so it works well.”
On 4 December, Ellenvale extended one of its bus services, which runs between Silloth and Maryport, to include Workington – a route scrapped by another operator earlier this year – and a move that shows the firm’s commitment to keeping local rural areas connected.
Accepting help
This growth in workload has not only resulted in an increased vehicle licence, but also employee expansion.
Says Steve: “I took Steve Newton on in the middle of July this year to deal with the compliance side of things.
“The last 12 months prior to Steve starting I began to realise it was too much for one man. I had to think ‘am I going to carry on doing it myself or increase the licence and staff it properly?’
“You start to realise that doing it on your own becomes impossible. So I took Steve on as Compliance Manager with a view to run more and more buses as we go along.”
Previously the West Cumbria Depot Manager and Bus Service Manager for another operator, Steve’s new role is to oversee compliance, manage the bus services and do some of the driving as well. He will also be working towards the Transport Manager CPC early next year.
“As the only non-family member in the core of the business, it makes me the impartial opinion, which can help. I have been here for five months so far and I have enjoyed every minute of it,” says Steve.
A family firm
From running the business single-handedly for 10 years, Ellenvale is now a strong family-run company.
Steve Berwick’s two children, Vicky and Steven, have also joined the business.
Says Vicky: “Steven and I joined my dad because of the growth of the business – it had never been big enough to employ us full-time until now. We knew he needed the help so we decided to come here.”
Vicky joined as the Accounting Technician this year, having just passed her accounting qualification. She has started doing some of the accounts in-house with the aim of it all being done internally in the near future.
“Steven has been here for just over a year and he has just gained his 16-seater licence and he’s going for his PSV and HGV licence soon,” says Vicky.
As well as a driver, Steven is the yard foreman.
Vicky says: “He really helps with the appearance of the vehicles as he has such an eye for detail – vehicle presentation must be perfect.
“Steven’s wife Carrie works in the office and is the main point of contact for bookings. And my mum, Julie, helps as she looks after my children while I am working and has always given up weekends to help clean the vehicles and depot.”
Behind the success
Steve believes that good staff has contributed to the success of the business and he prides himself on his low staff turnover.
“Everybody has put a lot of hard work in and continues to do so,” he says.
Ellenvale has 15 drivers, five of which are full-time, and five office staff. Many of the drivers are long-serving, including James and Dave Chapman who have worked at Ellenvale from the outset.
“We try to treat staff as fairly as we can. If you push people to the limit, they just walk,” says Steve. “I always see the drivers’ side because I have always been a driver and because I was a union man when I was in the workplace, I always try and be fair with people.
“If you show a bit of care, sometimes it’ll cost you money, sometimes it will cost you nothing, but what you get back is a bonus.”
A sensible approach
Steve’s future plan for the business is to purchase a vehicle for coach recovery and delivery.
He says: “It’s very sparse here so if you get a breakdown say on a Saturday night in west Cumbria, miles from anywhere, it would be good to have your own facility to take it away.
“We can then utilise that vehicle by advertising vehicle movement, such as coach recovery, motorway uplifts, vehicle collection and delivery services – there’s all sorts of things you can go into with it.”
While purchasing new coaches is not in the pipeline, the plan is to modernise the smaller vehicles.
Says Steve: “I’ve never had any large debt. I have always bought sensibly – old, but good vehicles. Our coaches are sufficient for what we do and are well kept.
“We’ll continue to do the same as we have been doing. We’ll never be a Stagecoach or an Arriva, but we are happy with how things are.”
